How Franchisees Mike and Heather Conforto Are Building a Team and Growing the Lawn Doctor Brand on the West Coast

When searching for a franchise opportunity, Mike and Heather Conforto were looking for something that would allow them to be part of a team. As parents to professional baseball player Michael Conforto, the couple knows all about the hard work and dedication that goes into being successful.

The opportunity with Lawn Doctor came about when Mike started looking into the possibility of becoming a franchisee, and he connected with a friend. That friend, Mike Foose from Pennsylvania, has been a franchisee with Lawn Doctor for 40 years.

Heather is a self-proclaimed “yard person,” but if she was going to get into the lawn maintenance business, then she was going to go big or go home. 

“We had other companies in the past work in our own yard, and they were terrible,” she said. “As the conversation about starting a Lawn Doctor franchise got more serious, I knew that if I could handle customer service and give the customers what I was looking for in a lawn maintenance business, then the opportunity would be ideal.”

The Confortos did their due diligence in researching the industry as well as validation with other franchisees. After going down the list and checking their boxes, they knew that franchising with Lawn Doctor was something they would be proud of. 

“Ultimately, it was an opportunity that we could start now and not feel like we’re starting in the hole,” said Heather. “The pricing was good and very affordable. Plus, it was something that we felt was in need in our area because there is no other Lawn Doctor franchise here. It’s a great opportunity to introduce a company in our area.” 

The Confortos signed on as Lawn Doctor franchisees in September of 2020. They then underwent training and officially started the business in March of 2021, operating out of Bothell-Redmond-Woodinville in Washington state.

Although the couple didn’t get the in-person training other franchisees who started before them were afforded due to the COVID pandemic, they have been able to bond with other franchisees along the way with weekly calls.

“All of the business-related issues that we were unsure of were discussed on those calls,” says Heather. “We have a great group that we started with and have been able to share amongst ourselves tips on what to do and what not to do.”

In the time since they opened their Lawn Doctor franchise, the Confortos have worked hard to build a team they know will lead them to success.

“The biggest thing we’ve learned along the way is to have a team,” said Heather.  “While it’s very much a family business right now, we’re looking forward to adding more people to our team who can help make the business a household name in our area.”

How Franchisees Are Helping Lawn Doctor Grow on the West Coast

There are a total of three Lawn Doctor franchise locations in Washington state, so the brand is currently working on establishing itself in the region. Opening up the first territories in Washington allows franchisees like the Confortos to help grow the brand on the West Coast.

Fellow Lawn Doctor franchisee Shane Underhill, who works out of Everett, Washington, is there for the Confortos when they have questions about their business, and the Confortos have been able to establish a network of assistance in addition to Underhill who they can go to with questions, including those relating to compliance with the Washington state Environmental Protection Agency.

“Our EPA is very strict,” she said. “We’ve had to be careful about the products we’re using, and building a network on the West Coast has been helpful as we’ve started to grow.”

Although still very new to the franchising world, the Confortos are eager to grow in the community as they learn the ins and outs of what it takes to find success and contribute to the brand’s strong system of franchisees.

Eric Martin, vice president of franchise development for Lawn Doctor’s parent company, Happinest, said that it's the franchisees who make the brand’s system strong and successful and who are the reason why Happinest was able to sign over 100 units in 2021. 

"The strength of our system comes down to the success of our franchisees, which is why we're proud to work alongside owners like Mike and Heather,” said Martin. “Lawn Doctor is continuing to grow in communities across the West Coast, and having franchise owners like the Confortos to lean on will help ensure that new owners who enter our system will be in a position to succeed."

The startup costs for a Lawn Doctor franchise range from $102,015 to $127,065. The franchise fee ranges between $88,950 and $102,000. To learn more about franchising with Lawn Doctor, visit https://lawndoctorfranchise.com/.